by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

On the day the Los Angeles Lakers planned to plead with center Dwight Howard to stay in the last of his free agency meetings, the embarrassment of riches continued for the crosstown Clippers.

Three people with knowledge of the deal confirmed that the Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks agreed on a deal that will net the Clippers small forward Jared Dudley from the Suns and free agent shooting guard J.J. Redick. Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe and small forward Caron Butler go to the Suns in the trade, with the Bucks receiving two second-round picks for their cooperation in a sign-and-trade with Redick in which he will be paid a combined $27 million over four years.

The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.

The Suns did extremely well to win the Bledsoe sweepstakes in the deal, as he had significant interest around the league and was expendable because of Chris Paul's decision to return on a five-year, $107 million deal with the Clippers.

But the Clippers' additions will make them even more of a threat than before, with new coach and senior vice president of basketball operations Doc Rivers now able to take pressure off the likes of Paul and forward Blake Griffin.